Audio/video recording and communication devices for flush mounting within a junction box

Abstract

Audio/video (A/V) recording and communication devices for flush mounting within a junction box in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure are provided. In one embodiment, an A/V recording and communication device is provided, comprising a housing defining an enclosure having a front opening, the housing having a rearward portion configured to fit within a single-gang junction box, a camera located at least partially within the enclosure, the camera having a field of view extending outwardly of the front opening of the enclosure, a speaker located at least partially within the enclosure adjacent the front opening, a microphone located at least partially within the enclosure adjacent the front opening, and a front button located at least partially within the enclosure and protruding outwardly from the front opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An audio/video recording and communication device (A/V device), comprising:
 a housing including:
 a rearward portion having a height less than 94.37 mm, a width less than 47.59 mm, and a depth less than 40.20 mm, and a connector sized and shaped to receive a power source when the A/V recording device is installed at a junction box, and 
 a front face plate secured to the rearward portion to define an enclosure,
 the front face plate including at least two apertures that align with respective junction-box apertures in respective tabs of the junction box when the A/V device is installed at the junction box, 
 the front face plate having a height and width greater than the enclosure, a rear surface of the front face plate abutting a surface of a wall to which the junction box is installed when the A/V device is installed at the junction box; 
 
 
 a camera having a field of view extending outwardly of a first front opening of the front face plate; 
 a speaker adjacent the front face plate to emit sound outward from the front face plate; 
 a front button aligned with a second opening of the front face plate; 
 a microphone aligned with a third opening of the front face plate; and 
 a power manager located within the enclosure and coupled to the connector and in electrical communication with at least the camera, speaker, and microphone. 
 
     
     
       2. The A/V device of  claim 1 , the rearward portion including a forward lip portion extending around a front opening of the rearward portion. 
     
     
       3. The A/V device of  claim 2 , wherein the forward lip portion comprises perimeter dimensions that create an interference fit with the junction box when the A/V device is installed at the junction box. 
     
     
       4. The A/V device of  claim 2 , wherein the forward lip portion has a height of about 96.62 mm, and a width of about 50.62 mm. 
     
     
       5. The A/V device of  claim 1 , wherein the A/V device comprises a doorbell. 
     
     
       6. The A/V device of  claim 1 , further comprising a shield positioned forward of the first opening of the front face plate. 
     
     
       7. The A/V device of  claim 6 , wherein the shield includes an upper opening adjacent the camera and aligned with the first opening of the front face plate. 
     
     
       8. The A/V device of  claim 7 , wherein the shield includes a lower opening encircling the front button and aligned with the second opening of the front face plate. 
     
     
       9. The A/V device of  claim 8 , wherein the shield includes a central opening located between the upper opening and the lower opening and aligned with the third opening of the front face plate. 
     
     
       10. The A/V device of  claim 1 , further comprising a replaceable shell overlying the front face plate, the shell including one or more mating features to assist in maintaining the shell about the front face plate. 
     
     
       11. The A/V device of  claim 10 , wherein the shell includes a central opening. 
     
     
       12. The A/V device of  claim 11 , wherein the central opening in the shell is sized and shaped to accommodate a shield located in front of the front face plate. 
     
     
       13. The A/V device of  claim 12 , wherein the shield resides within the central opening in the shell such that a front surface of the shield is substantially flush with a front surface of the shell. 
     
     
       14. The A/V device of  claim 1 , further comprising an infrared (IR) light source located at least partially within the enclosure. 
     
     
       15. The A/V device of  claim 14 , wherein the IR light source comprises at least one IR LED (light-emitting diode). 
     
     
       16. The A/V device of  claim 15 , wherein the IR light source comprises a first IR LED and a second IR LED located on opposite sides of the front button. 
     
     
       17. The A/V device of  claim 1 , further comprising a motion sensor. 
     
     
       18. The A/V device of  claim 17 , wherein the motion sensor is located behind the front button. 
     
     
       19. The A/V device of  claim 18 , wherein the front button comprises a Fresnel lens patterned to direct incoming light into the motion sensor located behind the front button. 
     
     
       20. The A/V device of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication module. 
     
     
       21. The A/V device of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is located above the front button. 
     
     
       22. The A/V device of  claim 21 , wherein the speaker is located below the front button. 
     
     
       23. The A/V device of  claim 1 , wherein the rearward portion of the housing includes at least one of an upper channel and a lower channel configured to accommodate, respectively, the tabs on the junction box to facilitate inserting the rearward portion into the junction box through a front opening of the junction box. 
     
     
       24. The A/V device of  claim 1 , wherein the height, the width, and the depth of the rearward portion varies within a manufacturing tolerance of minus 1 mm. 
     
     
       25. The A/V device of  claim 1 , the connector being an Ethernet port, the wire being an Ethernet cable having Power over Ethernet. 
     
     
       26. The A/V device of  claim 1 , the connector being a two-pin connector sized and shaped to receive a mating connector at ends of electrical wires of an AC power supply of the structure. 
     
     
       27. The A/V device of  claim 1 , wherein the connector does not protrude from the outer envelope of the rearward portion. 
     
     
       28. An audio/video recording and communication device (A/V device), comprising:
 a housing including:
 a rearward portion having a height less than 94.37 mm, a width less than 47.59 mm, and a depth less than 40.20 mm, and 
 a front face plate secured to the rearward portion to define an enclosure,
 the front face plate including at least two apertures that align with respective junction-box apertures in respective tabs of the junction box when the A/V device is installed at the junction box, 
 the front face plate having a height and width greater than the enclosure, a rear surface of the front face plate abutting a surface of a wall to which the junction box is installed when the A/V device is installed at the junction box, 
 
 a portion of the housing interfacing with the junction box to resist moisture intrusion into the junction box when the A/V device is installed at the junction box; 
 
 a camera having a field of view extending outwardly of a first opening of the front face plate; 
 a speaker adjacent the front face plate to emit sound outward from the front face plate; 
 a front button aligned with a second opening of the front face plate; and 
 a microphone aligned with a third opening of the front face plate.